The Emperor stood upon the stairs, his magic radiating fiercely as anger consumed him. Everyone present was left in shock—not merely by the overwhelming force of his power, but by his actions. For though his fury could be justified, the Emperor had never before unleashed his magic against Darkness. On the contrary, he had once sought to bind ties with her, even asking for her hand in marriage to his son. She had declined, yet still, he had shown her kindness.
Now, the Emperor himself had come, and beside him was the Empress. Fear, anger, hatred, and worry twisted across her face as her eyes fell upon her beloved son.
"Ametrine, my child!" she cried, disregarding both her place and the weight of the situation, rushing forward to his side.
"The prince is safe, only unconscious," the royal Mage reassured.
But his words earned him nothing more than a deadly glare from the Empress.
"Shut your mouth, you worthless being. Tell me who hurt him!" she demanded furiously. Her gaze, however, was fixed on Darkness, her voice shaking with rage.
"You… how dare you? Kill her!" Empress Vallena Serphalus ordered, after the Mage pointed toward Darkness.
Vallena had never liked her, and now, she had the chance she would never let slip away.
"Darkness, why are you doing this?" Emperor Zenak De Luxus Otrion, ruler of the Otrion Empire, asked. His voice carried authority, but within it was conflict. He wanted to protect Darkness, yet he also knew the nature of his son—and of his wife.
"I will show you my wrath!" Empress Vallena declared, seizing her moment. She raised an item that glistened like a diamond and released its power.
"Stop this nonsense!" the Emperor roared, but it was too late.
A powerful beam of light burst forth, shaking the air itself. The brilliance split into seven rays, yet still held devastating force.
Darkness only smiled at the attack. The seven voices that resonated within her declared in unison:
"You cannot hurt us—{Immortal Shield}!"
Before the rays could reach her, a magnificent shield formed, composed of seven interwoven elements. Upon impact, a thunderous shockwave ripped through the hall, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. The shield cracked, then mended itself, nullifying the attack entirely.
The Immortal Shield—an elemental barrier that could heal itself endlessly while consuming and neutralizing incoming force.
Darkness's smile deepened, as though her gaze itself asked: 'Do you truly think you can harm me?'
"You! How dare you challenge the Crown, hurt a royal, and smile as if you are proud of this rebellious behavior!" the Empress screamed.
"Your son crossed the line," Darkness's voice rang out, every word echoing like a decree. "Not once, not twice, but more than three times. He disrespected my master. He disrespected me. He tried to kill another's servant over a trivial matter. He tried to strike Lady Rubina. He tried to kill Lady Selphira. And finally… he harmed my shadow. And you think I will allow him to live? You think you can stop me from killing this trash?"
Her words carried such will that the entire hall felt crushed beneath the weight of her presence. Pressure, guilt, and shame settled upon everyone's hearts. Even the Empress faltered for a moment—though her pride soon forced her composure to return.
"You think your words matter? You attacked a royal. The only punishment for this crime is death!" Vallena declared coldly.
"Really? Then let us see if you can protect him." Darkness's voice sharpened. She raised her arms, her seven selves glowing with terrifying radiance.
"I, Darkness, call upon my Dharma Power. Come forth, and let me fulfill my duty!"
The chains binding her broke apart, and the glow of the seven became one. But Darkness did not return to her ordinary form.
Instead, a towering figure emerged—a manifestation of her essence. Seven heads, four arms, each representing her four paths: The Warrior, The Sage, The Daughter, and Herself. The Avatar radiated divine light so intense that even seasoned warriors trembled. The sheer weight of her power made nobles fall to their knees.
Lord Zeldard himself felt uncertainty twist within him: 'Can I even harm her now?'
Darkness's eyes burned with wrath as her voice shattered the silence. "Let us see if you can protect him."
The air tore apart as space itself quaked. A devastating ray of light streaked toward the prince.
But the Empress threw herself before him, spreading her arms in defiance.
The ray halted against an energy barrier.
"Do you think you can hurt me? This divine shield can stop any attack!" Vallena shouted triumphantly.
But her confidence was premature.
{ЯΛɎ ◎Ϝ ᗡƐร†ʀʊ☾†ɨ◎и}
The words reverberated from the seven heads, and seven beams merged into one blinding torrent. The moment the ray struck the shield, the barrier shattered like glass. The ray surged onward, only to be halted suddenly by a floating orb.
The hall fell silent. The nobles felt the sheer destructive force in the attack—it could have obliterated the Empress entirely, her enchanted garments and relics offering no defense.
And yet… it was stopped.
Many nobles gasped in disbelief. But the oldest, those of the great families, stared with dread. 'It actually appeared…'
For standing there was no ordinary being, but the Spirit of Light itself—Liora, guardian of the Emperor, the Empress, and the heir to the throne.
Her luminous form radiated divine brilliance, shielding the royal family. For most, it seemed as though the spirit was furious, but those who understood saw something else—fear.
Darkness's gaze fixed on her. '[Do you wish to fight me?]'
Liora's voice rang clear in Darkness's Mind, trembling beneath the authority pressing upon her. '[No… please, show mercy. I am bound to protect them, but let this end here.]'
Though stronger than Darkness in raw power, Liora's authority was lesser. She could not kill Darkness—worse, she feared that Darkness could bind her, twisting her into a mindless puppet.
"Darkness, you go too far. But I will forgive you if you stop now," the Emperor commanded, his tone strained.
"My Lord, she harmed our child! How can you—" the Empress began, but Darkness's voice cut through her thoughts.
'See? They are using you. And you know what he has done.'
'I… I understand.'Liora faltered. Against the weight of Darkness's Dharma, she could not press further.
"You should kneel and beg for mercy, or you will die!" Vallena spat defiantly.
That was the final thread—the last restraint snapping.
Darkness's expression hardened. "You still do not understand. Then perhaps it is time for the final option" She thought '{Perfect Spear}'
In her hands, a weapon materialized—a spear forged of her physical, mental, and spiritual essence. Its brilliance shook the heavens, its presence threatening to erase all before it. A weapon beyond mortal comprehension, forged not from any world's knowledge but from her own path.
Liora's glow brightened with dread. Everyone in the hall felt the aura of the spirit of light. It was the end. It was destruction. It was the spear that could pierce anything, destroy any mortal being, and break any shield that lacked equal might.
And it was aimed directly at the heart of the royal family.